Explorer axle swap idea/testing

[kevinbmx77]

So ive seen alot of threads with theorys about using a flip kit to mount the explorer axle but never saw someone go through with it. It usually ends with them realizing the ranger flip kit wont fit but if you use this
(Link in next comment) its made for an f150 8.8 and will fit the explorer axle. That leaves you with relocating your shock mounts and that is easy to do because they dont have to be perfectly placed, just cut them off your old axle

all i did was cut them and reshape them by bolting them back to the shocks. I will be geeting the new axle tomorrow and will be adding to this as i go.

 

[kevinbmx77]

http://m.summitracing.com/parts/djm-fk3000-5

 

[kevinbmx77]

Got the axle and test fitted it in backwards to make sure it lined up with the leaf springs. Fits perfect. The sway bar brackets on the explorer axle are the same but need to be relocated to the opposite side and in alittle to miss the shock brackets when its all welded up.

I grabbed an axle that was not limited slip by mistake. Anybody know of a way to make it limited slip?

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Anybody know of a way to make it limited slip?

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60140
I also went sua and made my own flip kit. posts #87,88,90 of this thread;
http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=79003&page=3

 

[kevinbmx77]

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60140
I also went sua and made my own flip kit. posts #87,88,90 of this thread;
http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=79003&page=3

Do you have the specs on your custom flip kit?

 

[kevinbmx77]

I went back to the junkyard and traded the axle in for a lsd version. Couldnt find 4.10 gear however

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Do you have the specs on your custom flip kit?

Whatever specs I have are in the thread I posted. I used whatever I had on hand. It was a while ago so don't really remember any more. If you have specific questions I can try to answer.

 

[kevinbmx77]

Got the kit yesterday its all installed, had to do it twice. Brake line was alittle short with 3 inch blocks but all you need to do is bend the break line holding bracket ( I'll be posting pictures of all this later) First attempt i installed it in a way that didn't work. The brackets are made to move the axle back to acount for the 5-6 inch drop that it was meant to make, so i had the idea, put them on backwards to move the axle foward to make up for the 3 inch lift but that made it to close to even get the driveshaft into position. (May be good for when you do a 302 swap). But i had to set it to move the axle back. With these offset holes the ubolts sit at a slant but im assuming its ok because it would do that being used the way it was meant to be. All the holes lined up and everything is tightso it should be good. If anything ill drill two new holes directly in the centers of them but i dont see it being necessary. For the sway i kinda ghetto rigged the shxt out of it but its on there tight and thats what matters. Used stock ubolts off the expo and cut the old mounts off and just bolted it down. Ain't going anywhere.

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[alwaysFlOoReD]

Post pics.

 

[kevinbmx77]

i have 2 inch spacers on the back also. Shock mounts havent been welded on yet

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[kevinbmx77]

Idk if the picture size is to much better but here you can kinda see the slanted u-bolts

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[alwaysFlOoReD]

Much better size.

 

[kevinbmx77]

So i finished it up today amd drove it with no shocks to my friends house for him to weld the shock mounts. He couldnt today. But when i get on the gas kinda hard i hear a bit of movement like axle wrap, my question is will the shocks stop that?

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[kevinbmx77]

Fixed it, just had to torque down the u bolts after driving it

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[kevinbmx77]

Lift blocks and the flip kit dont mix too well. They shift arpund too much because of the offset hole in the flip kit. Removing the lift blocks tomorrow for the time being till i can figure out another way to lift the back up

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